Saheli Women's Group

The Saheli Adventure Hub was a dream the Saheli Women’s Group had in 1998 after a consultation with local women. 236 women wanted to see a "women’s centre" in Balsall Heath "run by women, for women". We managed to secure half a million pounds from Sports England and the New Opportunities Fund through the ‘Active England ’ grant for capital and revenue costs to convert a section of the Cannon Hill Education and Training Centre in partnership with South Birmingham College into a fully functioning gym.

The Saheli Adventure Hub was officially opened on Saturday 24th June 2006 by The Saheli Women’s Group Trustees. 130 people attended the official launch where the group thanked all their friends, supporters, parents and their young daughters and working partners.

The Adventure Hub includes a wooden sprung floor for exercise and fitness sessions, showers, toilets, changing rooms and over £45,000 worth of gym equipment. The Hub has proved to be a run away success with 250 women registering as members within the first two weeks!

Saima Amreen Chair of Saheli Women’s Group said “We hope the Hub will offer all the local women regardless of race, age and background, the opportunity to get fit and healthy, build their confidence, take up new adventures to develop and grow into confident and inspired women.”

Naseem Akhtar, Project Manager said: “We hope the Hub shows other groups in the area that some things are worth fighting for. Many people said to us that we would never get funding for our idea and that a ‘women only’ facility would never work. We all knew it was severely needed in the area and we believed that services needed to change to take into account the needs of our community. The unique partnerships we have been able to form with South Birmingham College, The Healthy Living Centre and especially our funders Sport England and the New Opportunities Fund have made our dream a reality, we can not thank them enough.

So what will YOUR ADVENTURE BE WITH SAHELI WOMEN’S GROUP?

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